2019 Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak Spotlight | Memphis, TN

Volkswagen is known for the value and excitement of cars like the Jetta and Golf and the versatility of SUVs like the Tiguan and all-new Atlas, but that hasn’t stopped drivers from asking us when VW will make a new pickup truck. If the new Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak Concept is any indication, that new pickup might be along sooner than we think and could be more stylish than any other truck on the market from day one.

MQB Architecture

The MQB Architecture, or modular transverse matrix architecture, is already being hailed as one of the most flexible platforms in the automotive industry. While VW’s MQB Architecture already underpins everything from subcompacts to midsize SUVs, the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak takes this a step further into the pickup truck segment, demonstrating the platform’s incredible versatility.

Design

The Atlas Tanoak is based on the cutting-edge style of the Atlas, using those stylish cues to make it a truck that looks unlike any other. VW crafted the Tanoak to appear more rugged and confident with ground clearance of 9.8 inches, helping it perform as capably off-road as it would on-road. The Atlas Tanoak Concept features LED exterior lights and high-gloss 20-inch wheels, as well as a low-hinged tailgate for easy loading, all combining to create a handsome and sumptuous pickup we would love to drive.

Performance

The VolkswagenAtlas Tanoak offers a 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out a capable 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, making it a spirited performer with plenty of capability. Standard with 4MOTION ® all-wheel drive, the Atlas Tanoak teases a pickup that’s just as capable off-road, making the prospect of a VW truck all the more tantalizing.

Volkswagen is mum as to whether the Atlas Tanoak will make it to production, but we’d sure love to see its descendant in the showroom at Gossett Volkswagen Porsche sooner rather than later.